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Symphony of the Seas is a larger version of Royal Caribbean's 2-year-old Harmony of the Seas, the previous size leader in the cruise world. It surpasses Harmony in size by more than 1,000 tons. Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

Like Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas features a massive water slide complex on its top deck called Perfect Storm. Royal Caribbean just began adding water slides to its ships in 2016. Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

The outdoor decks of Symphony of the Seas also include the Sports Court, a fun zone that includes a miniature golf course, zip line, basketball court and two FlowRider surfing simulators. Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

Adirondack-style chairs painted blue and orange offer passengers a place to lounge between rounds of miniature golf at the Sports Court area. The miniature golf course is called Symphony Dunes. Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

Like sister ship Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas is home to a nine-deck-high slide called Ultimate Abyss. Passengers enter the attraction through the giant jaws of an angler fish. Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

In a nod to longstanding Royal Caribbean tradition, the Royal Promenade on Symphony of the Seas features a car on display. But in a twist on that tradition, the "car" is actually a sculpture. Called Beetle Sphere, it's by artist Ichwan Noor and was made using original parts from a 1953 Volkswagon Beetle. Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

Just outside Boleros along Symphony of the Seas' Royal Promenade is a massive, 18-foot-high metallic sculpture by artist Gregor Kregar. Called Paradox Void, it was created by 1,200 laser-cut mirrored stainless steel triangles and 200 sections of LED lights, and it weighs three tons. Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

Another shopping venue along Symphony of the Seas' Royal Promenade is The Shop, which sells Symphony of the Seas-branded items. It takes the place of the Kate Spade shop that is located in the same location on sister ship Harmony of the Seas. Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

Among the most notable features on Symphony of the Seas is Central Park, a tree-lined area of specialty restaurants, bars and high-end shops that runs down the center of the ship. Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

Izumi is an extra-charge restaurant on Symphony of the Seas. Signature sushi rolls (five to eight pieces) range in price from $13 to $17. Five pieces of sashimi is $10 for most types of fish. Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

Capable of carrying up to 6,680 passengers, Symphony of the Seas is not only the biggest cruise ship at sea but the fattest, with a width of 215.5 feet. Its water slides soar high above the ship's pool decks and tree-lined atrium. Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

The new world's largest cruise ship has made its first call in Mexico.

Royal Caribbean's giant Symphony of the Seas on Sunday arrived at the beach-lined Mexican island of Cozumel, the Caribbean's busiest cruise port, for a day-long visit.

The 228,081-ton vessel is on its maiden voyage from Miami, its new year-round home. It's a special four-night sailing during which Cozumel is the only stop.

Symphony departed Miami late Friday under a fusillade of fireworks that lit up the city's waterfront, part of a welcome celebration that also included a fire boat spraying water high into the air. Soaring 18 decks high and nearly 1,200 feet long, Symphony is the largest cruise ship ever to sail out of PortMiami, the world's busiest cruise port.

Local media in Cozumel was waiting for Symphony on Sunday for what they called a historic visit. The ship will be visiting Cozumel regularly starting later this month when it begins seven-night voyages to the Western Caribbean.

Unveiled earlier this year in Europe, Symphony is built on the same platform as Royal Caribbean's 2-year-old Harmony of the Seas, the previous size leader in cruising. But it eclipses its sibling by more than 1,000 tons and offers several new features.

Among additions are a first-of-its-kind, two-deck-high family suite with a slide between floors, a revamped Boardwalk amusement area and a new laser tag attraction. Symphony also has more cabins than Harmony.

While Symphony spent its first few months sailing in Europe, it only was a temporary assignment. The resort-like vessel has long been scheduled to sail in the Caribbean year-round starting this month. The ship arrived in Miami on Friday after a 12-night voyage from Barcelona. The arrival came a day after the vessel made a brief stop at Port Canaveral, Florida — its first call in North America.

Symphony's official coming out party in North America will take place Thursday in Miami when it is christened by actors and mega-cruise fans Carlos and Alexa PenaVega, along with their one-old son Ocean.

Designed for vacationers who love big, bustling mega-resorts, Symphony boasts one of the highest concentrations of attractions for both adults and children at sea. Like its sister Harmony, it has a record-breaking thrill slide that plunges nearly 100 feet and a "bionic bar" with a robot bartender. It also offers three main pool areas, a water slide complex, an adults-only solarium, an ice skating rink, two rock climbing walls, a basketball court and a mall-like indoor promenade with shops, bars and eateries. Like Harmony, it also has an open-air, tree-lined area called Central Park with restaurants, bars and upscale shops such as Bulgari.

Symphony can hold up to 6,680 passengers and sails with a crew of 2,200, meaning that on busy weeks it can be home to nearly 9,000 people. It was constructed over three years at the giant Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France — the same shipyard that built Harmony. Its reported cost was more than $1.3 billion.

With the addition of Symphony of the Seas, Royal Caribbean has 25 ships.

Symphony of the Seas is the fourth vessel in Royal Caribbean's groundbreaking Oasis Class series, which began debuting in 2009. Slightly bigger than the three other ships in the class, it features several new-for-the-line features including a two-deck-high 'ultimate family suite.' Royal Caribbean International

The massive size of Allure of the Seas and its Oasis Class siblings is evident when strolling through their interior public areas. Each of the ships boasts a multi-deck, mall-like area with shops, eateries and bars called the Royal Promenade. Simon Brooke-Webb / sbw-photo, sbw-photo

4. Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas. Measuring 225,282 tons, Oasis was the world's largest ship when it debuted in 2009, but it has been surpassed by three newer Oasis Class ships. Royal Caribbean International

While the tonnage measurement of Oasis of the Seas is the same as its younger sister Allure of the Seas, Royal Caribbean says it is two inches shorter. The slight difference made Allure of the Seas the new world's largest cruise ship when it debuted in 2010. Royal Caribbean International

Like all of the Oasis Class ships, Oasis of the Seas features an open-air 'central park' with eateries, bars and shops that features more than 10,000 plants including trees. Simon Brooke-Webb, Simon Brooke-Webb /sbw-photo

Norwegian Joy was specifically designed for the Chinese market with such features as a tranquil, park-like space at the center of its top deck in lieu of a more traditional pool area. Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

18. Genting Dream. Built in 2016 for Asia-based Dream Cruises, this giant ship measures 150,695 tons. Dream Cruises caters to the Chinese market and is little known in the United States.
Ingrid Fiebak-Kremer

Genting Dream was built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany -- the same shipyard that has built many of Norwegian Cruise Line's ships as well as vessels for Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises. Ingrid Fiebak-Kremer

19. World Dream. Also measuring 150,695 tons is World Dream, a sister ship to Dream Cruises' Genting Dream that debuted in 2017. Aimed at the Chinese market, it began sailing out of the Chinese port of Guangzhou in November 2017. Dream Cruises

A flock of cows appear to be unimpressed by the cruise ship World Dream as it departs the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany on its way to Asia. DAVID HECKER, EFE via European Pressphoto Agency

20. Queen Mary 2. Unveiled in 2004, this grand ocean liner was the world's largest passenger ship at the time of its debut, and its arrival marked a comeback for the storied Cunard Line. It measures 149,215 tons. Cunard Line

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II christened Britannia in 2015 at the Ocean Cruise Terminal in Southampton, England. Here, Britannia captain Paul Brown shows off the vessel's grand atrium to the monarch on the day of the christening ceremony. Pool photo by Richard Pohl

26. Regal Princess. Built in 2014, Regal Princess is a sister ship to Royal Princess that also measures 142,714 tons. Like Royal Princess, it is part of the line's new Royal Class of ships. Princess Cruises

As with the Piazza on the Royal Princess, the Piazza on the Regal Princess is 50% larger than similar spaces on previous Princess ships and features natural lighting from curving walls of glass facing the sea. Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

Coming soon: The list of the 25 largest cruise ships will change in November 2018 with the debut of German line Aida Cruises' Aidanova. Measuring more than 180,000 tons, the vessel will be the largest ever for Aida and one of the five biggest cruise ships ever built by any line. It is shown here under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. Aida Cruises

Located on Deck 17 overlooking the back of Symphony of the Seas, the Royal Loft Suite is two decks high and features two bedrooms, a large living room with soaring ceiling and a dining area. Gene Sloan

Located at the back of Symphony of the Seas on Deck 17, the Ultimate Family Suite is one of the biggest suites on the ship and features a smorgasbord of family-friendly amenities. Gene Sloan, USA TODAY